May 10, 2014 - General Health: Got Ulcers?

The equine stomach’s unique design lends itself to gastric ulcer development; here’s why and how to manage these painful lesions

by Christa Leste-Lasserre

Sixty percent of performance horses might have gastric ulcers, according to researchers who’ve peered inside stomachs to determine incidence. Fifty percent of foals could have them, and among racehorses the figure can be as high as 93%. In one study, more than one-third of leisure-riding horses exhibited at least mild ulcers, and, in another, as many as 75% of Western pleasure horses developed gastric ulcers within eight days of moderate training. And you can’t just wish them away: Only 4-10% of equine ulcers heal naturally without treatment.